News
Coenzyme Q10 may benefit heart health of patients with heart failure
14 December 2012
According to a new data analysis from the US, increased intakes of coenzyme Q10 may improve heart function in people with congestive heart failure.
06 April 2012
Regular intake of supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids may support the function of blood vessels in cardiovascular patients, suggests a new Chinese meta-analysis.
The meta-analysis included data from 16 randomized controlled trials and a total of 901 participants who used omega-3 fatty acid supplement doses from 0.45 to 4.5 grams per day for an average of 56 days (1). The analysis showed that, compared to placebo, regular supplement intake was associated with a 2.3% improvement in flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of a blood vessel’s healthy ability to relax. Signs of the potential benefits of these fatty acids were limited to people with cardiovascular disease or its risk factors. No benefits were observed in healthy participants. The researchers commented that this could be partly explained in that healthy individuals may already have sound endothelial function, and the improve-ment due to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was thus limited.
While the effect on FMD was significant, no effects were observed for endothelium-independent vasodilation (EIV). This indicates that omega-3 fatty acids benefit the cells lining the blood vessels (endothelium) directly. The researchers noted that the potential mechanism was still unknown, but the findings pointed to a potential role for omega-3 fatty acids reducing levels of the inflammatory biomarkers that are involved in damage to cells, called soluble adhesion molecules. Their conjecture is in agreement with recent studies that reported omega-3 fatty acids may counter the atherosclerotic and carcinogenic effects of an intercellular adhesion molecule (2,3). The scientists concluded that although a positive association was identified between omega-3 fatty acids and endothelial function, the evidence for a clinical efficacy was not strong enough to make final recommendations concerning specific doses or durations of supplementation for different populations. They recommended conducting future well-designed studies to identify the target population for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and to determine the optimal dose.
14 December 2012
According to a new data analysis from the US, increased intakes of coenzyme Q10 may improve heart function in people with congestive heart failure.
27 September 2013
According to a new study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high among Saudi Arabian adults, particularly for women and girls and young boys.
30 August 2016
The quality of nutrition during the first 1,000 days - the period between conception and the child’s second birthday – are crucial for health and development along the life cycle.